Featured Story

DeWalt's New Cutoff Tool Is Ultimate Multitasker

Demolition work is tricky business for corded metal cutoff tools, but the DeWalt DC413 can be easily toted to out-of-the-way jobs. And unlike reciprocating saws, it features swappable cutting wheels and discs.

Previous Tools Stories

Ridgid R4330 Planer Shaves Wood to Deli-Thin Slices The Ridgid R4330 Planer is versatile, portable and surprisingly affordable. (Published in the February 2008 issue)
Drywall Fasteners: Abusive Lab Test To find out how a classic plastic anchor holds up against two promising newcomers, we built a steel bracket, mounted it on drywall, and piled on weights until the fasteners failed. When the dust cleared, we had a winner. (Published in the October 2007 issue)
Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Jigsaw: A Lighter Slicer Thanks to power-dense lithium-ion batteries, the cordless tools of the world are on a weight-loss streak. The latest success story is the lightest pro-grade cordless jigsaw ever, Makita's pricey-but-powerful LXT, which can recharge in just 25 minutes. (Published in the August 2007 issue)
Stihl MS 280 C-BQ Chain Saw: Quick Thinker Chain-brake systems that stop the chain in response to blade kickback are now standard on nearly every saw, but Stihl's MS 280 C-BQ ($470 with chain and 16-in. bar) doesn't stop there. (Published in the July 2007 issue)
Porter-Cable Builds World's Smallest Belt Sander (Published in the July 2007 issue)
Best Cordless Screwdrivers: Comparison Test A no-holds-barred test reveals the balance of power between the nine best stick drivers on the tool market. (Published in the June 2007 issue)
Top 3 Measurement Tools for DIY Done Right Measuring and layout are key steps in any job, yet most DIYers put far more thought into tools that cut and drill. The stuff here isn't as fun as, say, a high-powered saw, but it can save lots of time. After all, you only cut once; you measure twice. (Published in the July 2007 issue)
Home Toolbox Essentials: Skill Set With 61 items at over 50 pounds, senior home editor Roy Berendsohn has one of the best sets of tools in the business. It takes a long time to find out what you need and fit it into one box. This one took 30 years of trial and error. (Click inside for video!)
Bosch's Saw Ambition: Gadget of the Week Proving that the golden age of lithium-ion power tools is just getting started, this two-speed reciprocating saw sets a new standard for both speed and endurance. And it's a lesson in industrial ergonomics, with an accommodating handle and a compact profile. (Published in the May 2007 issue)
Greenlee Angled Cutting Pliers: Cutting It Closer (Published in the March 2007 issue)
View Full Home Journal: Tools Archive

Workshop

3D Workshop: Expand Your DIY Plans

With just one click of a mouse, you can rotate, animate and explode every joint and part of six classic woodworking projects.

Featured

25 Skills Every Man Should Know

These days, you can outsource almost any job—but some things you need to know how to do yourself.

Tool Spotlight

Porter Cable 4212 Dovetail Jig

• Watch How-To Videos
• More Jig Information
• More PORTER-CABLE products

Reader Projects Wanted

Extreme Mailbox Showcase

Whether you've reinforced that little red flagpole for drive-by bashers or just gone all Rube Goldberg on your lawn, show us!

Current Issue

New Military Robots, Best of Green Design, Gonzo Leno & More!

We look at the Pentagon's plan for armed, unmanned warfighters, plus 2008's top 16 efficient products and projects for your home.

Lawn Care

Natural Lawn Care

Natural lawn care used to be a novelty. Now it includes effective techniques for any gardener's arsenal of tricks.

PM Ad Partner Links

• The Future is Blu

• myBike, PM's New User-Powered Motorcycle Community, Brought to You by Kawasaki

Reviews

New PM Book: The Boy Mechanic Makes Toys

This project-stocked read takes play time—indoors and out, for young and old—from the hum-drum of store-bought amusements to the thrill of home-spun invention, all with the honest nostalgia of diagrams and explanations reproduced from original Popular Mechanics pages circa the early 1900s.